VFR At Night! 

WAM: New technology hits GA 9-30-09: Here we go again, another acronym! AOPA reports on a new technology that was setup in Colorado. "A new surveillance system introduced in Colorado allows air traffic controllers to track aircraft in areas not covered by radar. The new system, called Wide-Area Multilateration (WAM), requires no new equipment for aircraft and uses a network of relatively small sensors on the ground to pinpoint the location of aircraft in remote, mountainous regions. The sensors send out signals that are received and sent back by aircraft transponders." The article is a little vague and got me wondering. So I found this website about the Czech Republic that's been using this system since 1999. Click on the Multilateration icon to visit the website. The icon to the right looks like another version from Germany.

Greenville Seaplane Fly-In 9-26-09: It seems like anyone who has a float plane at one time or another has been to the Greenville Seaplane Fly-In on Moosehead Lake in Maine. Here's a link sent in by Jim that has some great pictures. Looks like float planes, amphibious float planes of just about all shape and sizes. From what I hear there's all kinds of contest and competition on different creative things to do with your float plane. Notice in some of the pictures are float planes taking off with canoes strapped on to the side of them. I'd like to see some of the knots they use to tie them down. Click on the icon to enlarge and see a link to the web site.

NOTAM ALERTSanford Airport! 9-23-09: This tip just in from Jim on an email from the Sanford Airport manager. It sounds like a group called the "Red Star Pilots Association" will be performing aerobatics practice maneuvers at the Sanford airport on Friday and Saturday this weekend. An SMA posting calls it "Red Star Yak Rally September 25-26". Here's and excerpt from the email: "Sanford Regional Airport will be closed for Red Star Pilot aerobatic practice on the following dates and times: Friday, September 25, between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM local. Saturday, September 26, between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM local. Also, watch for plenty of formation flying around Sanford this weekend and join us downtown Sanford at Number One Pond for Operation Pumpkin Drop IV at noon on Saturday." Be sure to check the NOTAMS for the official word. As of today, here's what the NOTAM looks like... hmmm... CLICK HERE 

EAA Young Eagles Free Plane Rides for Kids 9-18-09: The local EAA  Chapter is having another Young Eagles Event here at Skyhaven, October 10, 2009. For more INFORMATION and a printable poster click on the Flight Rally icon to the right. Here's a chance to learn first hand about flying. This program is more that just a flight. It's really a learning experience.  The EAA Young Eagles program was launched in 1992 to give interested young people, ages 8 - 17, an opportunity to go flying in a general aviation airplane. These flights are offered free of charge and are made possible through the generosity of EAA member volunteers.  Click HERE to visit a webpage about a previous Young Eagles event held hear at Skyhaven a few years ago.

Collings Foundation’s “Wings of Freedom” tour ~ 9-13-09: The Collings Foundation’s “Wings of Freedom” World War II historic airplane tour will be coming to Sanford September 21 through 23 for public viewing and rides. The Foundation’s beautifully restored Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, and the North American P-51 Mustang are being advertised as the airplanes that will be on tour. One ad says that Flying the B-24 Liberator to Sanford will be Mike McMahon, a flight instructor at Sanford Regional Airport’s fixed base operator, Southern Maine Aviation. The three aircraft are scheduled to be at Sanford Regional Airport from Monday, September 21 through Wednesday, September 23. Tours are scheduled on Monday from 2 pm until 5 pm, Tuesday from 9 am until 5 pm, and on Wednesday from 9 am until noon. The cost to tour all three aircraft is $12.00 per person. The foundation has appeared at other aiports around the area including Skyhaven Airport back in 2004. Click on the aircraft icon in this article to see the pics I took when they visited Skyhaven when Ossipee Valley Aviation was the FBO.

TFR ALERT Within the New York Class B Airspace9-13-09:  AOPA reports the FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR NEW YORK, NEW YORK ON MONDAY that will restrict flight in the area during President Obama's planned visit. See AOPA Online for a graphical depiction 
( http://www.aopa.org/images/whatsnew/newsitems/2009/notams/9-9329.gif ).
 ==> Class B Airspace <==Location:Within the lateral limits of the New York Class B Airspace 
Surface to 17,999-ft-MSL Times:10:35 a.m. until 4:05 p.m. local Monday, September 14
Requirements for flight and operations not authorized 
( http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/notams-special.html ). 
Click on the links for more information. Click on the tfr icon to see a Google Earth rendering that shows the Laser tfr sticking up above the Class B airspace as well as the Presidential TFR space.

2009 NorthEast LSA Vendor Showcase ~ 9-7-09: Here's a poster recently sent in by Jim Dubois on more information about Light Sport Aircraft. Looks like the EAA106 chapter is pretty active at Lawrence Airport. On Sept 13th they are having the "2009 NorthEast LSA Vendor Showcase," with free admission, free seminars and free parking. Be sure to click on the icon poster at the right to get a printable PDF file of the event. A lot of people don't realize that there's two types of Light Sport Aircraft. The S-LSA and the E-LSA. The one's you rent are of the S-LSA flavor. If you want more information about Light Sport Aircraft here's a website that has a nice overview.
http://www.sportpilot.org/learn/slsa/
 

TFR ALERTAT Martha's Vineyard & Falmouth (again) 8-30-09:  AOPA reports the FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR OVER MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA.:  Special Airspace Bulletin... FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR OVER FALMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS, ON SUNDAY A notam has been issued that will restrict flight in the area during President Obama's planned visit. See AOPA Online for a graphical depiction ==> 30 nm radius TFR <== Location: MVY VOR's 025-degree radial at 18.7 nautical miles Surface to 17,999-ft-MSL Times: 4:00 p.m. until 5:20 p.m. local Sunday, August 30 ==> 10 nm radius no-fly zone <==Location: MVY VOR's 025-degree radial at 18.7 nautical miles Surface to 17,999-ft-MSL Times: 4:00 p.m. until 5:20 p.m. local Sunday, August 30.

Electric Airplane From China ~ 8-29-09: Another aircraft manufacturer is joining the ranks of the LSA market. This time it's an all electric airplane powered by a 54 hp electric motor that weighs only 37 lbs. The aircraft made an appearance at Oshkosh and plans to sell commercially as a light sport aircraft. They say it can climb at 800 fpm and cruise at 80 knots, but at those power settings you have only 15 minutes of battery power. It's probably a good thing that the aircraft has a glide ratio of 25:1.  The aircraft called the "Yuneec e430" looks a lot like a glider. For some reason, I have not found any pictures of the inside of the cockpit. The only information referring to the cockpit I've found is from an AOPA article by Barry Schiff. He describes the instrument panel with propeller rpm, volts, and kilowatts to determine remaining batter power. It must have some of the basic flight instruments, but the question is, are they solid state or a mixture of conventional boiler gages? (Wouldn't that be ironic?)  Click here to visit the Yuneec website.

TFR ALERT
over Boston & Martha's Vineyard!8-28-09:   President Obama and his wife Michelle will leave the Vineyard tonight, two days ahead of schedule, to attend the funeral of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in Boston. Although the funeral mass is on Saturday, the first couple will fly out the previous evening because of concerns about approaching bad weather from Tropical Storm Danny which is forecasted to affect the Island on Saturday. At yesterday’s media briefing the Obamas would come back “as weather permits” after Senator Kennedy’s funeral, and then head back to Washington on Sunday evening. 

TAKE A RIDE ON THE "LIGHT" SIDE 8-20-09:Light Sport Aircraft side that is... Light Sport Aircraft are appearing everywhere and pilots are taking notice. Although they have designated limitations on speed, weight, and performance, that doesn't take away from their short field take-off characteristics and cruise performance. How do they handle? Just ask our very own Jim Dubois who recently took a ride in a Gobosh 700. And don't underestimate that 100 hp Rotax 950 engine. At gross weight you're off the ground in a few hundred feet and climbing at 800 fpm. And be sure to brush up on the Garmin hand held gps' like the 495 because that's the kind of navigation tool you'll find in these machines. For more information, stop in at the office and have a chit-chat with Jim and get the scoop on light sport aircraft... 

TFR ALERTAT Martha's Vineyard & Falmouth  8-19-09:  AOPA reports the FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR OVER MARTHA'S VINEYARD, MA, ON SUNDAY. A NOTAM has been issued that will restrict flight in the area during President Obama's planned visit. However, Martha's Vineyard Airport will be open to pilots who have requested a waiver at least 72 hours in advance and complete security screening before arriving to or departing from KMYV. Could this be a trend to a more reasonable TFR? According to AOPA, pilots who want/need to travel to KMVY durring the TFR can apply for a "waiver" and "security screening." Click here for more infomation on the waiver process.

Proposed Expansion of Condor 1 & 2 MOA 8-14-09:  AOPA has reported that the Air National Guard has released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) evaluating the proposed expansion of the Condor 1 and 2 Military Operations Areas (MOAs) near Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine. AOPA has opposed this expansion for safety reasons and had requested an EIS to study the proposal more thoroughly. Click on the icon map to see the before and after map obtained from the ANG 175 page pdf proposal. Click here if you would like to see the AOPA article and reference to the ANG report.
 

TFR ALERT AT PORTSMOUTH !!!8-10-09:   AOPA HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING ALERT: FAA TO ESTABLISH TFR OVER PORTSMOUTH, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ON TUESDAY A notam has been issued that will restrict flight in the area during  President Obama's planned visit. ==> 30 nm radius TFR <== Location: PSM VOR's 148-degree radial at 2.5 nautical miles Surface to 7,999-ft-MSL  Times: 11:55 a.m. until 4:10 p.m. local Tuesday, August 11 ==> 10 nm radius no-fly zone <== Location: PSM VOR's 148-degree radial at 2.5 nautical miles Surface to 7,999-ft-MSL  Times: 11:55 a.m. until 4:10 p.m. local Tuesday, August 11 ==> IMPACTED AIRPORTS <== Portsmouth International At Pease PSM  Littlebrook Air Park 3B4  Hampton Airfield 7B3  Skyhaven DAW  Plum Island 2B2  Sanford Regional SFM  Lawrence Municipal LWM  Biddeford Municipal B19  Beverly Municipal BVY  Manchester MHT

Kindle DX for Approach Plates 8-9-09:   Have you heard about Amazon's new Kindle DX? Looks like pilots are getting pretty excited about it. To me, it looks like a clipboard without the clip and paper. However, similar to other electronic devices, it has a multifunction display but the buttons must have some permanent functions because they are labeled. Another unique feature is the "paper like" appearance of the screen that uses some kind of ink bubble display technology that they say works good in the bright daylight. Are all those mechanical scales and calculators and reference material in your flight bag being replaced by solid-state circuits? It sure seems that's the way it's going... Click on the pics for more information. Also, click HERE for Airbrief.com infomation about the Kindle DX.

THE PRESIDENT IS COMING! 8-4-09:  Are we going to have a TFR? The newspapers have announced it's official that President Obama will be coming to Portsmouth on Aug. 11th. Remember, if and when the TFR goes into affect, it will close off a 60nm diameter of airspace. The AOPA web site says they can't give advanced notices any more so we'll have to wait and see. Click on the icon map to enlarge and see what the TFR has looked like in the past.... EGRESS... INGRESS...

Strangle Your Parrot!7-31-09: Well not the parrot in the cage that is... Just before WWII the British invented a clever gadget called the "parrot," which was the first aviation transponder. It not only interrogated coded pulses but also responded back with a coded pulse of its own. During the war if enemy planes got to close to the British planes the transponder pulse would block any aircraft that were nearby. So, when the British planes were returning to home base the ground crew would tell the pilots to "strangle your parrot" which was the code phrase to turn off the transponder so they could see if the enemy planes were close by. In the U.S., the system is called IFF (identification friend or foe) or secondary radar and is still in widespread use. Now you know why you "squawk" 1200 when you go for a ride on a VFR day. Don't forget to stop "squawking" after you land.

VFR At Last? 7-31-09: As they say, if you like what you see, "take a picture," it last longer. Finding a decent day to go flying continues to be a challenge, but here's a picture to prove we still get blue sky days, or should I say day. A visiting Skyhawk stops in and occupies a tie down space next to a Robinson helicopter. I believe the day I took this picture it was in the high 80's believe it or not. On a hot day, the newly filled cracks on the ramp get a little squishy. But don't worry, it must have some special ingredient because it doesn't stick to you feet.
 

PFD's, EFIS, MFD's, & EMS's! 7-23-09: A new set of acronyms are evolving with the proliferation of glass panels and there's beginning to be some subtle similarities that appear to be emerging. I thought I had MFD's figured out until I sat in front of an EFIS with a combined EMS, that's Electronic Flight Instrument System and Engine 
Management System. However, Bendix/King just came out with a PFD (Primary Flight Display) that looks pretty much like the EFIS except for the fact is has "Integrated ADAHRS." Had enough digital stuff? Take a look at the instrument panel on the right.
 

Looking For VFR! 7-18-09: Trying to find a nice VFR day is turning out to be a challenge around these parts. CAVU may be really asking for to much, but there are days that you can sneak out there and find a spot to climb 3,000 to 4,000 feet and brush up on some steep turns, stalls, and slow flight. However, making a VFR cross country across several states may be a challenge. Take today for example. If you want to fly to Bar Harbor it may be a long wait for the clouds to disappear.

AVIATE, NAVIGATE, AND COMMUNICATE -7-13-09: From dials and switches to flat screens and computers aircraft instrument panels are changing. Here's a couple of pics from my archives comparing a 1975 F-8 Crusader and a Falcon jet 2003 version."The1975-era F-8 Crusader has the typical cramped, dial-filled cockpit common to many aircraft up to that time. The newest Falcon business jet from Dassault Aviation, however, fealures four large flat screens that can be set up by pilots to display just What they want. Note the alphanumeric keypad just forward of the blue oval-shaped "stationary mice" or cursor controls us'ed to interact with the plane's computers." Check out the EFIS on the Falcon, and the EFIS on the Light Sport Aircraft, Hmmm...
 

Operations at Non-Towered Airports / /  18th Annual Yankee Ultralight Fly-In 7-8-09: Saturday, July 11, 2009, starting at 10:00 am the FAA seminar will be held in conjunction with the EAA Ultralight Chapter 67 annual Yankee flying at Sanderson's Field in Greenland. This airport is located at a very unique location that sits right on the edge of the Pease Delta airspace. Click on the FAA icon for more detail about the seminar. Click on the aerial view icon to get more information on the Yankee Ultralight Fly-in.

Gyrometers, Accelerometers and Magnetometers, Oh my! 7-5-09: It's hard to believe, but all the mechanical devices that have been the long time traditional standard for the "boiler gauge" instrument panels are being replaced with "solid-state" electronics. Glass panels are showing up everywhere. Now it's not just an advance training option but becoming in many cases a standard panel in some training aircraft. Becoming familiar with glass panels is probably not going to be sufficient in a training environment. Unfortunately, like cell phones, there is usually a lot of electronic options that you may not need or care to spend much time playing around with the multi-function buttons and displays. So, if you've learned on the so called "boiler gauges," and you're doing some VFR pleasure flying with a rented glass panel,  the question becomes, "What level of proficiency do you need to master?" GPS systems offer the "direct to" and the "nearest" quick button features, but how much should you be familiar with beyond that? Click on the icon to see a CFI's recommendation from AOPA.

Light Sport Aircraft 7-3-09: More and more articles are showing up about light sport aircraft. This opens up an area of flying for pilots who want to fly for fun and do it in a new aircraft for under $100,000. The choices are pretty wide spread from low wing to high wing with a variety of shapes and sizes. There are plenty of commentaries on why to fly sport aircraft and some interesting comments about the sport pilot requirements. On the downside, there's a list of restrictions a sport pilot must follow, but on the upside, you are not required take an aviation class physical. If you're looking for a sport plane that optimizes lift and utility you might want to take a ride in the A22 Valor. Looking at the A22 head on you might get the thought of an Antonov. Well, seeing that they both come from Russia (Ukraine), maybe that's why.